Potato-bugging machine.



'PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. I

M. HARMON. POTATO BUGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1'23. 3, 190B- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

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'PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908;

I M; HARMON.

POTATO BUGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1908- I 3 SHEETS-SIEBT 2.

Jfdill']? 1191 m W 66 M. HARMON.

POTATO BUGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB. 3, 190B.

PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET '3.

MARTIN HARMon, or BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

POTATO B UGGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented me 9, 1908.

Application filed February 3, 1908. SerialNo. 414,075.

To all whom it mcy concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN'IIARMON, a citizen of' the United. States, residing at Bloomin ton, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Potato-Bugging Machines; and I do declare the following to use the same.

be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the .art to which it appertains to make and This invention relates to new and useful improvements in potato bug machines, for

knocking potato bugs from the vines and destroying the same, and is especially designed as an improvement over the machine for which Letters-Patent were granted March 29, 1904, No. 755,769; The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, durable and efficient machine which is adapted to be driven astride the rows of potato plants and to knock-the potato bugs, chick bugs, or other vermin from the vines and destroy the same while the machine is in motion.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a ,top plan'view of a potato bug destroying machine embodying .my improvements; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the.

. lane indicated by the dotted lines 3.3 of ig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on'the line 44 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is afragmentary sectional view of a portion of the mechanism for throwing the machine into and out of ear.

, n the embodimentof my invention, here shown, I provide a main rectangular supporting frame 1' comprising cross pieces 1' rigidly connected by a number of longitudinally extending connecting bars 8, which extend the full length of the frame, the front end of theframe being provided with suitable bearingsZ for the main shaft or axle,

which, as here shown, is made in two sections 3. A roller carrying frame 6 'is supported below the rear end of the main supporting frame by hangers 7. A train wheel 9 is suported in therear of the main supporting fi'ame bgi'a suitable bracket 10 extending rearwar. y from the rear cross iece of sai frame. A longitudinally exten ing shaft 11 is arranged at eachside of the machine and extends through the rear and central cross pieces 1' thereof to a point adjacent to the adla'cent axle section. 'Each 'of these shafts ings of the same.

Each of the shafts 10 is provide carries a fan 12, preferably such as are here shown, said'fans being'disposed at an ap propriate height to o crate on the vines as the machine passes tiem, so that by-their rotation the vines will-be so 'agitatedas to shake the bugs therefrom, and tojsweep-the bugs inwardly so that they are caused "to fall upon the frame 6, which is between and be- 'low said fans. Shafts 11 are driven from the main shaft or axle sections 3 by beveled gears 18, fixed to said sections and being ada ted to intermesh with beveled inions 14, ed to the extreme front ends 0 Y said shafts.

Within the scope of my invention, any suitable means maybe employed and carried in the roller carrying frame t'o'freceive the bugs andenable them to be destroyed en masse. As shown, however, I preferably usetwo series of crushing" rollers 15, each series being arranged near one side of the frame, and being journaled'in suitable bear- In practice, the front" ends of the crushing rollers extend to afpoint inadvance of the front cross iece o able sprocket wheel 16, over .ch arid a sprocket wheel 17, fixed ,to the front end of.

each of the shafts 11 is arranged to work an pinion 19, so that all of'the rollers of each '80 the frame 6, and one roller of eac series is provided with ,a suit-' .85. endless chain. 18. Each of the crushing series are caused to turn'in relatively opp-i,

site directions by movement being imparted to one-roller ofeach series by the sprocket and chain conneetio'nsdescribed.

A vertical wall or partition i? 7 is arranged above the frame '6 and between the two series of rollers, the purpose of which will be evident. arranged above the r01 ers 15 to scrape the crushed bugs therefrom.

Suitable scralper members '21 are While various arrangements may .be employed for. throwing the machineinto and out of'gear, I have shown and described an arrangement that is preferably em loyed,

point sli htl piece of file p or shoulders 22, between which is arran ed vthe depending portion or member 23 .o a transversely extending rock bar in the form 1 of an angle bar 24, said depending orti'on ormember being recessed to receive t e shafts.

An operating lever 25 is mounted on the" top piece of the angle bar and ispivoited near p at a in rear ofthe centrahcross ame 1 with two spaced collars its inner end above the frame in any suitable manner. This operating lever is provided with the usual spring actuated pawl, connecting rod and grip, 25, 26, and 27, respectively, the first namedof which is adapted to engage in either of the notches of a segmental rack 28, mounted above the machine frame in any suitable manner. By this arrangement the beveled pinions 14 of the shafts 1.1 may be thrown into and out of engagement or mesh with the beveled gears 13 of the shaft or axle sections 3 by manipulation of the operating member, as will be obvious.

A connecting rod or member 2-9 is arranged at a suitable point in advance of theframe 1 to which is connected the draft means 30. A seat 31, provided with the usual seat supportingbar 32 is mounted on the front endof the machine, a suitable canopy 33 being arranged directly over the seat to protect the driver, the upright support 34 for the canopy preferably extending throughxa corresponding aperture in the rear projecting end of the seat and being supported by the machine frame.

From the construction disclosed it will be seen that the entire bug destroying mechanism may be thrown into or out of gear by a single operation, and that the bugs knocked from the vines by one of the drum fans will be deflected onto. the series of crushing rollers adjacent thereto. It will also be seen that by employing only two series of crushing rollers and arranging. the scraper members,

artition or fender in the manner shown, iability of any of the bugs passing between the series of rollers will be'entirely and a obviated.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

A machine of the character specified, embracing in combination with a supporting frame, a main axle made in two sections arranged at the front end of the su porting frame, and-supporting wheels fixe to the ends of said axle sections, of a roller carrying frame arranged under the su porting frame, two or more series of crus ling rollers ar; ranged in said roller carrying; frame, longitudinal rearwardly extending shafts journaled to the supporting frame at opposite sides of the roller carrying frame, drum fans fixed to said shafts, scra er members secured to the roller carrying 'rame above and in position to engage the crushing rollers, suitable gearing for driving the fan shafts and crushing rollers from the main axle, and manually operating means for throwing such gearing into and out of gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, MARTIN HARMON.

Witnesses FRANK PENNER, CLAUDE E. MoLEAN. 

